This year’s Estonian Product Design Awards were presented on September 14. The biennial design competition called BRUNO is organized by the Association of Estonian Designers and aims to highlight the best Estonian designers and their innovative work, highlight the growing role of product design in our daily lives and draw the industry’s attention to the potential of local designers.
Estonia is a small country with an almost negligible domestic market, so the only chance to be economically successful is to develop innovative new products and services in collaboration with designers and manufacturers.
What is rewarded?
The Estonia Product Design Award BRUNO is awarded in three main categories:
1. The best product for everyday life (Furniture, lights, home accessories, home textiles, office supplies, etc.)
2. The best lifestyle product (Clothes, bags, jewelry, travel gear, etc.)
3. The best technological product (Cars, bicycles, tools, computers, medical devices, phones, etc.)
A prize will also be awarded for this Blife changing product. Designers cannot apply directly for this category, but are selected by the international jury. We look for products that offer solutions to current problems, look to future developments and social changes and have a positive influence on our lifestyle.
Who won?
And now to the winners!
The best product for everyday life: the ÖÖD mirror house
The Mirror House was originally developed for personal use and, according to brothers Andreas and Jaak Tiik, is the most private architectural building one could design. Because the house does not have a face of its own, but only reflects the surrounding environment. It has a size of 20 square meters and combines timelessness with a Nordic touch and comfortable luxury. A perfect home to escape the city and enjoy nature with all your senses. More information from the manufacturer.
Best Lifestyle Product: ALEXANDER Portable Plywood Suitcase
Tõnis Vellama is actually a lighting designer, but his creative ideas don’t stop at other areas of life. The elegant birch plywood suitcase is designed for modern urban nomads who want to always have their laptop, notepad and other everyday items with them. ALEXANDER is inspired by the famous travel suitcase from the former Luther furniture factory and is equipped with rounded corners, leather handle and magnetic closure.
The best technological product: the CORAL multifunctional column
For designer Margus Triibmann the source of inspiration for the column was marine corals. The multifunctional column is intended for small ports that want to guarantee the supply of water, electricity and other infrastructure to boats and yachts at the dock. Furthermore, the coral columns are light sources that transform the harbor into a sculptural landscape in the dark.
The best life-changing product: cane straw #pillirookõrs
Grete Riim and Mihkel Tamm have developed an alternative to 100% ecologically degradable plastic straws. Pillirookõrs is made from cane from the island of Saaremaa (Ösel) and contains no additives. A 100% natural product that can be used several times if it is completely dry in the meantime.
The aim of the manufacturers, who came onto the market with the idea only a few months before the appointment, is to create a domino effect. If people use an environmentally safe straw, they could also avoid plastic cups and bags and stop throwing rubbish on the floor. Straws are available at the manufacturer’s shop.
The jury’s conclusion: Estonians create their own design landscape without compromise
A total of 138 works were presented in the competition for the best products. 58 of them made it to the second round. The jury was made up of internationally recognized designers and design managers from, among others, Finland, Estonia, Italy, France and Great Britain.
Conclusion of Finnish jury member Pauliina Aarikka: «The high level of the submitted works did not surprise me, as Estonians do fantastic and incredibly good work in many areas of life. It seems to me that Estonians are creating their own new world of design without compromise and imitation. The submitted projects were very different and in some cases very unique.» The president of the Association of Estonian Designers Ilona Gurjanova also confirms the high level of the projects. “Among the works there are some truly unique and original solutions that have more than convinced the jury for their uniqueness, economic potential and benefit for society and have what it takes to make Estonia, a country of design, even better known in the world
latest posts published
You should definitely pay attention to this!
Indoor gardening trend: green happiness for your home
The best design shops in Riga (Latvia)
Living ideas for Scandinavian furnishings
Christmas 2025: our trendy gifts in the shop
Insider tip for Christmas: designer jewelery from the Baltics!
What is the difference between a chest of drawers and a sideboard? Let’s find out!
Decorate your living room and bedroom in Scandinavian style
Muista office stool for more fun at work
